Redstone Training Ltd

Redstone Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector:

Anita Pyrkotsch-Jones, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection dates: 25 and 26 June 2024

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Name of lead inspector:

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

215 Crosby Road South Seaforth Liverpool L21 4LT Monitoring visit: Redstone Training Limited, 25 and 26 June 2024

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision where the provision offered is in scope for inspection. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements and as outlined in the ‘Further education and skills inspection handbook’, especially the sections entitled ‘Monitoring visits’ and ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly publicly funded’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Redstone Training Limited (Redstone) is an independent learning provider based in Liverpool. Redstone received its funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide Skills Bootcamps in February 2023. At the time of the monitoring visit, the provider had 24 adult learners enrolled on a railway engineering track maintenance Skills Bootcamp.

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Significant progress

Leaders have considered very carefully the development of the Skills Bootcamp. The Bootcamp enables learners to achieve a level 2 qualification in railway engineering track maintenance and a safety critical network rail qualification. Tutors provide a very high standard of training and, consequently, learners are prepared very effectively to work in the rail sector.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers work very closely with employers to develop the curriculum to meet the needs of employers and learners. Leaders plan bespoke training programmes with employers that include additional qualifications such as rail saw equipment training and traffic marshal training. Learners have the option to complete the construction skills certification scheme card at the end of the Skills Bootcamp. These additional qualifications help learners move into jobs in the rail sector.

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Significant progress

Leaders work closely with partners such as the British Legion, the armed forces and His Majesty’s Prison Service. For example, staff visit prisons to provide advice and guidance about the Skills Bootcamp and careers in the rail sector to prisoners in preparation for their release from prison. Leaders are ambitious and highly committed to reaching those furthest away from employment and training.

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Significant progress

Leaders monitor very carefully the progress that learners make. They monitor learners’ destinations for six months from completion of the Skills Bootcamp. Most learners remain in employment and benefit from additional training with their Monitoring visit: Redstone Training Limited, 25 and 26 June 2024 employer, gain promotion or take on additional responsibilities such as site warden, welding or de-vegetation.

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Significant progress

Leaders ensure that tutors have the appropriate experience and qualifications to teach their subjects. Tutors are accredited trainers with the National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR). They maintain industry competence because they still work in the rail industry alongside their tutor role.

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Significant progress

Governors have significant experience and expertise in further education that they use effectively to challenge leaders to continually improve the quality of training for learners.

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Significant progress

Learners attend the Skills Bootcamp because they are very keen to start a new career in the rail sector. They are motivated to work in track maintenance, plant, signalling, and maintaining overhead lines. Learners report that the course is helping them to achieve their career ambitions.

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Significant progress

Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum where knowledge is taught in an order that builds learners’ knowledge, skills and behaviours during the course. For example, learners initially learn about vital health and safety aspects such as hazards, safety management, fire and first aid before learning about using hand tools. They move on to completing complex skilled tasks such as ballast profiling, sleeper changing, spacing and squaring, track inspection, off-track inspection and fishplate maintenance. This prepares learners very effectively for a career in the rail sector.

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Significant progress

Learners develop a wide range of practical skills. For instance, they learn about lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations before safely and skilfully lifting sections of rail tracks using specialist equipment. Learners confidently use industry-specific terminology such as bull head rail, fishplates, cess, forefoot and sixfoot. This contributes to learners improving their confidence and skills to carry out a range of tasks in a high-risk work environment.

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Significant progress

In addition to the planned curriculum, leaders ensure that learners complete industry recognised competencies in manual handling, safety awareness, using permanent way hand tools, impact wrenches and ROBEL tampers. This provides learners with up-to-date skills that align with employers’ specific needs.

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Significant progress

Tutors provide very effective feedback to help learners understand what they have done well and what they specifically need to do to improve their practical and written work. Monitoring visit: Redstone Training Limited, 25 and 26 June 2024 Most learners complete the Skills Bootcamp and move into employment. Leaders ensure that potential employers are aware of learners’ additional skills and qualifications, such as banksmen training, when matching them with employers’ mentors.

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Reasonable progress

The safeguarding team deals with safeguarding concerns swiftly and efficiently. They work with external agencies such as the mental health crisis team and the police to keep learners safe. Safeguarding cases are monitored closely. Records are comprehensive and up to date.

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Reasonable progress

Learners are working in a safety critical industry. They consistently follow safe working practices. They work together as a team, following manual handling regulations to lift sections of railway track safely and competently using grippers and iron man equipment. Monitoring visit: Redstone Training Limited, 25 and 26 June 2024 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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